Here we were waiting for Renault’s hearing on Monday. Little did we think there would be so much drama way before the hearing even! The team is not going to be disputing the allegations made by Piquet Jr. But the juiciest bit of it all is the bit on the resignations.

Renault’s managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds have reportedly left the team.

Renault's masterminds - Pat Symonds and Flavio Briatore

After a prolonged denial of the accusations made against the team, by Piquet Jr. and his father, the team released the following press release,

“The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.”

So was Alonso’s win at Singapore last year really a fluke?

WOW! It is almost time for round 2 of the Singapore Grand Prix and last year’s race is back in the spotlight! I guess it is definitely safe to say that this is another first at the Singapore Grand Prix!

The 2009 Grand Prix track has been fraught with twists and turns. There is a lot of action both off and on the track.

KERS. Massa’s accident. Schumacher’s Return. Schumacher disappointing the world! Nelson Piquet. Force India. Fisichella. Fisichella moving to Ferrari! OK.. then slow DOWN! But no as Monza approaches, the fastest track of the year. The engines just get louder!

Renault charged with fixing the race at Singapore 2008.

F1 Singapore 2009

Do you think I want to sit at home and catch up with the craze in front of the telly! No way! And then I stumbled upon this really amazing deal 46,660/- 3 Days, 4 Nights; Visa, airfare, 4 Star Hotel AND F1 ticket. Plus an easy EMI scheme. PLUS a chance to win a holiday in GOA!

It is almost time for the Singapore Grand Prix and the latest buzz is around Renault and their stellar performance at Singapore Grand Prix 2008.

Just to refresh your memory, Alonso won the Singapore Grand Prix 2008. Renault celebrated the victory without much attention to fellow racer, Piquet’s crash. Questions of Alonso’s early pit stop and Piquet’s crash being pre-meditated did go around the rumour mill, but nothing nailed the coffin shut.

2009 saw Piquet being sacked from the team and predictably, a few weeks later came his accusations of Renault’s ‘dirty plan’ at the Singapore GP. Piquet went on record to say that Alonso was given way more attention by the team and his manager Briatore was his worst enemy.

Now, the latest gossip in Formula 1 fraternity is that Piquet has officially declared Alonso’s win last year was a set up. His latest allegations include Renault’s strategy of an early pit stop for Alonso and the team asking Piquet to crash so as to give team mate Alonso an added advantage over the rest during the safety lap.

With Renault being called in for a hearing on the matter, the team faces the risk of being disqualified from the rest of the season.

So, is Piquet just playing spoil sport or is Renault really in for it?

I’ve been saying it all this while, and I’m going to say it again, at the world’s only night race, anything can happen. And don’t tell me you don’t want to be a part of all the drama, STAGED or NOT!

I played some psychology games with myself (I do that sometimes, just to check my sanity levels). This time I played free-association. You know, you think of a word and immediately associative things pop-up. So this time I thought of F1 Singapore – predictable night race, street race, hose pipe (thanks to Massa) and also so close!

Now, when I thought about it I realised, close not just in terms of close to India (that too, but not only) the cars are so amazingly close to where you stand. It is logical isn’t it? It’s on the regular street! A street that on a normal day, you stand waiting for the light to change so you can run across to grab a bite, or something. Honestly, the only thing keeping you from the cars is ice-cold fear and a flimsy wire-fence! The sound and the blast of air after a car whips past can literally bowl you over!

For all you champions of the earth, there is some green at the end of the fuel hose.
The one sport most condemned for its gas-guzzling ways is taking some serious steps to reduce its carbon footprint. And Singapore has been one of the first to implement it.
The use of renewable energy resources like sun, wind, water, geo-thermal, tidal and osmosis is being used to bring down the whopping figure of 500-600 mega watts of power!
Yes, it doesn’t change the number of liters consumed, approximately 75 liters for every 100 kms. If every race track is approximately 300 kms and there are 10 tracks, the math is simple but the number more than just a little disturbing!
But I believe they are revving in the right direction!

I asked a group of F1 enthusiasts, which would be their dream destination to watch F1 live. Some lazy bones said I’d only go when India opens its own circuit. Most said Monaco and others said Singapore.

When questioned further the reasons cited brought about some interesting comparisons and contrasts. Monaco: one of the oldest circuits in the season, was inaugurated in 1929. Racing on its narrow streets is rather mockingly likened to riding a bicycle around your bathroom or like Nelson Piquet jested, “like flying a helicopter in the living room!”

For us spectators, the more challenging the circuit the greater the thrill. World Champion Lewis Hamilton was reported to have said that it [Singapore] was twice as hard to negotiate as the more famous Monaco street circuit, and unexpectedly physical – requiring double the amount of energy over a single lap as compared to the Monaco circuit. This was because the roads are rather bumpy and the turns tough to negotiate at such high speeds.

Reigning Champion Lewis Hamilton

The streets of Monaco have always pushed the skills of the drivers to the maximum and now Singapore even more so! Another interesting comparison is with the tunnel in Monaco – a bone of contention, owing to the abrupt shift from light to dark and into light again. Singapore’s circuit gives the same feel – almost – when it ducks under the Bay Grandstand between turn 18 and 19.

While Singapore can’t compare when it comes to Monaco’s history, the newness of its circuit is a definite plus for viewing pleasure. Plus, Singapore’s proximity to India has a definite advantage – yes this is the cold-blooded practical angle. However, it really isn’t all that cold-blooded. The race action is over-heated with all the stress and tentions of the track. AND AND AND… you can’t call any place where Beyonce and Fergie are playing to the crowd cold-blooded now can you! *wink*

Last year was special coz it’s the first year, this year is special-ER because there is so so much more!

So how do we go about getting there? Don’t fret, there are a set of travel packages that have been designed to be completely hassle-free, easy to book and really good deals as well!

Check out the packages put together by Travel Tours on this really helpful website. So for those who don’t want to leave the comfort of their couch until a circuit comes to India. Don’t wait around, coz the last one there is as good as…Badoer! Yup, you heard me!